Get in the Groove with a $70 Camera

The inexpensive SiPix StyleCam Groove ($69.95 list) is a small, slim, and exceedingly simple to operate. Although it's a no-frills point-and-shoot model with only a handful of features, the silver-colored Groove is versatile enough to capture video with sound, record audio annotation, and serve as a Webcam. Should the batteries die, however, stored images disappear. You'll also contend with poor image quality, slow and irritating transfer software, and an inaccurate optical viewfinder.

The Groove's 1.3-megapixel CMOS image sensor offers resolutions of 640-by-480, 1,280-by-1,024, and, with software interpolation, 1,600-by-1,200. The 16MB of built-in memory is enough for 155 Economy, 32 Fine, or 9 Superfine images, 55 seconds of video with sound, 53 minutes of audio only, or varying combinations. The camera saves still images as JPEGs, videos as AVIs, and audios as WAV files. Not only does it not have a slot for optional memory cards, though, but the built-in memory is volatile RAM, so images remain in the camera only as long as there is battery power. The f3 lens, a fixed-focus, fixed-focal-length type with a field depth of approximately 43 inches to infinity, has neither macro nor zoom capabilities. Settings and the number of images or time remaining are displayed in a tiny control panel on the back of the camera.

Two double-A batteries power the Groove unless it's attached to a PC, in which case the USB bus does the job. As with all double-Apowered digital cameras we get that ship with alkaline batteries, we substituted regular rechargeable nickel metal hydride cells, but they wouldn't work in this camera. We tried several other sets, with the same result. Only higher capacity, 1950 nickel hydride rechargeable batteries worked. SiPix recommends against using rechargeable batteries in this model, but the user manual says nothing. Still, the Groove is very power efficient, and batteries will last for days or even weeks.

Shooting with the Groove is so easy that anyone can learn to use the camera in less than 5 minutes. There are two buttons on the back. To power up, you simply hold down the power button for 3 seconds. You're ready to shoot in about 5 seconds, and depending on whether the flash is enabled, recycle time is 3 to 5 seconds. You use the same button to cycle among the camera's status, modes, and functions. The second button toggles the flash on and off and selects between indoor and outdoor scenes.

Taking 320-by-240 movies is equally easy, and they generally play well in Microsoft Windows Media Player. Once shooting begins, however, exposure freezes, so if the scene moves to different lighting, such as from shadow to sun, the frame will become too light or dark. When the light changes, shooting two video clips is best.

Installing SiPix's software is simple, but using it can be frustrating. Images transfer automatically when you attach the camera via the enclosed USB cord, but they're not automatically saved. You must first select one of four options from a wizard: copy to a folder, view a slide show, open folder to view files, or take no action. Although you can specify or name the folder that will hold images, copying across a network is a hit-or-miss proposition. Saving still images is a relatively time-consuming process, and video transfer is excruciatingly slow. Furthermore, you can't wipe the camera's memory clean via the computer. SiPix also bundles ArcSoft's PhotoImpression and VideoImpression software.

Image quality is poor to merely acceptable. Our simulated daylight studio test image was dull and lifeless, exhibiting uneven exposure with falloff on the edges. Color was good, however. Our test flash image was at least three stops overexposed, with blowouts of both highlights and midtones. In addition, what you see in the viewfinder is far less than what the camera actually captures, making accurate framing of shots difficult.

Were image quality better, the Groove would be a great buy. It is cost-effective for short movies for the Web and also acts as a Webcam. But unless you don't particularly care about still-image quality, intuitive software, and flexible battery options, we suggest looking for a better, albeit more expensive, entry-level digital camera for your still pictures.

Sally Wiener Grotta is a contributing editor of PC Magazine, a professional photographer, a digital artist, and an early pioneer in computer graphics. She has coauthored several books with Daniel Grotta, including The Illustrated Digital...

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